Academic information

All students beginning at Western Sydney University will undergo a period of adjustment. This section will provide information about the general academic system at the University and help you to prepare for what to expect during your study. To be successful at university, it is important that you: 

Learning guide 

The learning guide contains all the basic information about a subject, including lecturer contact information, learning outcomes, assessment details, learning resources and schedule of teaching/learning activities.

You should use this as a primary resource throughout the duration of the subject and refer to it for any questions. A soft copy of the learning guide will be available on the E-learning system one week before the commencement of each class. 

You are recommended to save a copy of the learning guide to your personal computers for future use. 

Assessment tasks 

Forms of assessments can include written assignments, oral presentations and exams. Assignments are academic tasks that you have to submit to your lecturers or tutors to show your understanding and engagement with your subject. To produce good assignments, you should:

Lectures/Tutorials 

Lectures will examine specific topics focusing on critical issues and real world practical application of the content. Lectures are not simply a regurgitation of the textbook content. Sometimes there may be information presented in lectures that is not covered in the textbook – this information is examinable. 

It is helpful if you have completed the required reading prior to viewing lecture resources on the E-learning system and in soft copies (if provided) as this assists in your ability to engage with the material. If for some reasons you are unable to complete required readings in a specific week, you must still view the resources and try to catch up on your reading as soon as possible afterwards. Any such information is examinable, so it definitely will be beneficial to view all lecture resources. 

You may have trouble understanding a lecturer's accent or may find that some speak too quickly. Be patient, as you get used to the language, things will become easier. But also, don’t hesitate to ask your teacher to speak slowly. 

Tutorials following the lectures provide students the opportunity to apply and share knowledge by doing a variety of in-class activities individually or in groups such as exercises, discussion, and presentation. These activities focus on demonstrating your skills and help you build your ability to achieve the learning outcomes for each subject. 

Tutorial questions/exercises will be provided in class. You will be expected to have completed specific reading and exercises from the text book and other required materials prior to attending each lecture and tutorial class. If you have not prepared adequately, you will not get the full benefits from this learning opportunity 

How to avoid plagiarism 

The act of using the words or ideas of another person without acknowledgment is called plagiarism. Plagiarism is a kind of cheating and is considered a crime. If you hand in an assignment without acknowledging your resources, you are likely to fail and be asked to rewrite it. You may fail that ubject or even be suspended from university. 

You can avoid plagiarism by using the accepted referencing technique. Referencing means acknowledging/ citing in your writing the sources of your information and ideas. These sources may include books, journal or magazine articles, newspapers, company, government or institutional reports, websites or personal communications among others. 

Why referencing is essential 

Referencing is a way of showing recognition and respect for intellectual property. Your references show how widely you have read and indicate the quality of research and the sources that have influenced your thinking. 

Textbook

You will find out the prescribed textbook(s) for each subject from the learning guide. In most cases you will be required to pay an additional fee for the required  text. It is your responsibility to find out what books you need for each subject and to make sure you have a copy by the first day of class. 

Assignment cover sheet and peer evaluation form 

All assignments are to be submitted with an Assignment Cover Sheet, either with an individual or group assignment. In addition, group assignments are to be submitted with a Student Evaluation of Group Member Form. These forms can be found in the Student forms section at MyWSU.